Gaze driven interaction for a vehicle

Abstract

According to the invention, a method for modifying operation of at least one system of a vehicle based at least in part on a gaze direction of a driver is disclosed. The method may include receiving gaze data indicative of the gaze direction of a driver of a vehicle. The method may also include modifying operation of at least one system of the vehicle based at least in part on the gaze data.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for modifying operation of at least one vehicular system of a vehicle based at least in part on a gaze direction of a driver of the vehicle, wherein the system comprises:
 an eye tracking device for receiving gaze data indicative of the gaze direction of the driver of the vehicle; and 
 a processor configured to:
 determine, based on the gaze data, biometric characteristics of the driver, wherein the biometric characteristics of the driver includes a distance between eyes and iris size; 
 determine whether the gaze direction of the driver is directed to an instrument panel of the vehicle; 
 illuminate the instrument panel at a first level of illumination when the gaze direction of the driver is determined to be directed to the instrument panel of the vehicle; 
 illuminate the instrument panel at a second level of illumination when then the gaze direction of the driver is determined to not be directed at the instrument panel, wherein the first level is greater than the second level; 
 determine a command has been received when the gaze direction of the driver is determined to be located away from a displayed item of the instrument panel, but at least within a threshold distance from the displayed item of the instrument panel; 
 modify the operation of the at least one vehicular system of the vehicle based at least in part on the command being received and the biometric characteristics of the driver. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the processor is further for receiving video data from an interior of the vehicle and correlating the gaze direction with information in the video data; and 
 modifying the operation of the at least one vehicular system of the vehicle is further based at least in part on the information in the video data. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the processor is further for receiving video data from an exterior of the vehicle and correlating the gaze direction with information in the video data; and 
 modifying the operation of the at least one vehicular system of the vehicle is further based at least in part on the information in the video data. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the displayed item of the instrument panel comprises:
 an icon displayed by a control system display.